Regulatory T cells increase in breast cancer and in stage IV breast cancer

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2012 Jun;61(6):911-6. doi: 10.1007/s00262-011-1158-4. Epub 2011 Nov 25.

Abstract

Expression levels of VEGF and Her-2, levels of T-regulatory (Treg) cells, levels of CD3+ cells, and ratios of Th (CD4+ T cells)/Tr (Treg) cells were compared between stage I, II, III, and IV breast cancer patients (n = 120) prior to chemotherapy and healthy women (n = 30). Cells from peripheral blood were counted by flow cytometry, Her-2 and VEGF expression was detected by pathological examination, and Her-2 was detected by FISH. Breast cancer patients had more Treg cells and a lower ratio of Th/Tr cells than the healthy women. Stage IV breast cancer patients had more Treg cells and a lower ratio of Th/Tr cells than stage I, II, or III breast cancer patients. Patients positive for VEGF had a lower ratio of Th/Tr cells compared with patients negative for VEGF, and those positive for both VEGF and Her-2 also had a lower ratio of Th/Tr cells compared with patients not positive for both VEGF and Her-2. The decreased Th/Tr cells ratio indicates impaired immune function, suggesting that the stage IV breast cancer and the Her-2/VEGF-positive breast cancer patients have lower immune function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Health
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2